Maybelline's latest twist on mascara is the "push up cup brush" featured on The Falsies Push Up Drama Mascara. This design is supposed to scoop and lift lashes, but because of how the stubby bristles are spaced apart, you end up with far more clumping than you do any sort of lifting effect. If it's defined lashes you're after, this is NOT the mascara for you. On the other hand, if you're in search of buildable thickness, The Falsies Push Up Drama Mascara might be worth a look…

To start, The Falsies Push Up Drama Mascara earns our praise for it's flake-free, smudge-resistant wear. The formula is on the wet side during initial application so it can get a little messy, but once it dries, you can count on resilient wear for the day. It's not waterproof (see our review of the waterproof version if that's what you want), but you'll still need a good makeup remover to get it off.

Where this fragrance-free mascara really brings the drama is in terms of volume—particularly if you let it dry between successive coats. We can't say it's the smoothest application (expect pieced-together lashes), but if a full lash line is your goal, The Falsies Push Up Drama Mascara delivers. The formula also adds some length, though we didn't experience the "lifting" effect that this mascara is touted as having.

By the way, if you're under the impression that The Falsies Push Up Drama Mascara is a two-step primer + mascara, it's not—the packaging just makes it look that way.

In the end, Maybelline's The Falsies Push Up Drama Mascara left us with mixed emotions. The added volume is impressive from a distance, but up close, the clumpiness that comes with successive coats can create borderline spidery-looking lashes. We're also disappointed that the claimed lifting effect never really happened for us. Our best guess? This is going to be a love it or hate it mascara for most people…and we fall somewhere in between.

All I want in a mascara is to give me a little length and a little volume that does not smudge or flake by the end of the day. Is that too much to ask. . . . . Literally, every mascara I try on looks great when I first put it on. I'm not asking for anything that crazy. If by the end of the day, I have black under my lower lashes OR flakes of black pieces on my cheeks then the mascara is a zero. This one had smudges and flakes.

While I love myself some Texas size volume, the volume given by this mascara was, lets just say...not for the faint of heart. The formula is very wet and a lash comb is a must unless clumpy, spidery lashes is on your list. Until fully dry, it's prone to transferring and smearing. With age, the formula becomes drier and easier to work with, but not to the point where you can abandon your lash comb. If you have oily eyelids, you'll find this mascara transferring onto them after 6-8 hours of wear time. All in all, this is just too much work for so-so results.

Strengths: At least one excellent product (if not several) in almost every category; many excellent foundations; superior mascaras; inexpensive makeup brushes; some terrific concealers, powders, blush, and lip color options.

Weaknesses: Lips balms tend to be a letdown; a few of the Great Lash mascaras are surprisingly average compared to other Maybelline formulas.

Maybelline is one of the best-known and most recognized mass-market makeup lines in the world—it's available in 90 countries. Throughout its long history, which began in 1915 when T. L. Wilson founded the company and named it after his sister, Mabel, and Vaseline (which he combined with coal dust to concoct a mascara for her), the company has prided itself on bringing innovative products to the marketplace. L'Oreal purchased the company in early 1996, and that's when things really started coming together for the Maybelline brand.

Specializing in a large selection of lipsticks, nail polishes, and mascaras, there is a lot to love from this drugstore brand. Many of their foundations are exceptional, and their powders, several mascaras, pencils, matte-finish concealers, and Superstay Lipcolor collection impressed us by offering a high degree of quality for their inexpensive price point.

Maybelline's latest urban image is a positive step, as many of their latest launches have been innovative without resorting to "been-there, done-that" gimmicks. Smart shoppers will note the similarities of a few of Maybelline’s formulas to products from high-end brands that are also owned by parent company L’Oreal. That just goes to show conscientious shopping can really save you money—without sacrificing quality or performance.

For more information about Maybelline New York, call (800) 944-0730 or visit their interactive Web site at www.maybelline.com.

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Beautypedia cuts through the hype to bring you product insights and recommendations you won’t find anywhere else!

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Strengths: At least one excellent product (if not several) in almost every category; many excellent foundations; superior mascaras; inexpensive makeup brushes; some terrific concealers, powders, blush, and lip color options.

Weaknesses: Lips balms tend to be a letdown; a few of the Great Lash mascaras are surprisingly average compared to other Maybelline formulas.

Maybelline is one of the best-known and most recognized mass-market makeup lines in the world—it's available in 90 countries. Throughout its long history, which began in 1915 when T. L. Wilson founded the company and named it after his sister, Mabel, and Vaseline (which he combined with coal dust to concoct a mascara for her), the company has prided itself on bringing innovative products to the marketplace. L'Oreal purchased the company in early 1996, and that's when things really started coming together for the Maybelline brand.

Specializing in a large selection of lipsticks, nail polishes, and mascaras, there is a lot to love from this drugstore brand. Many of their foundations are exceptional, and their powders, several mascaras, pencils, matte-finish concealers, and Superstay Lipcolor collection impressed us by offering a high degree of quality for their inexpensive price point.

Maybelline's latest urban image is a positive step, as many of their latest launches have been innovative without resorting to "been-there, done-that" gimmicks. Smart shoppers will note the similarities of a few of Maybelline’s formulas to products from high-end brands that are also owned by parent company L’Oreal. That just goes to show conscientious shopping can really save you money—without sacrificing quality or performance.

For more information about Maybelline New York, call (800) 944-0730 or visit their interactive Web site at www.maybelline.com.

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